Background, Mandate and Activity Sectors

Background

The Atlantic Provinces office opened in 1980. It was set up in Acadia by the René Lévesque government and has been in Moncton since that time. The territory it covers includes the provinces located east of Québec, namely the four Atlantic provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mandate

The mandate of the office is to promote Québec within the four Atlantic provinces as well as to propose and put in place any and all measures to increase its visibility.

The office supports the implementation of various programs and actions of the Québec government. It acts on the political, economic and cultural levels, in addition to nurturing privileged ties with the Francophone and Acadian communities on its territory.

The head of the Atlantic Provinces office represents the Québec government in its relations with the governments of Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. It counts on the support of a Development Attaché in Charge of Communications and the Francophonie, and of an Administrative Technician.

The Atlantic Provinces office reports to the Secrétariat aux affaires intergouvernementales canadiennes, attached to the Ministère du Conseil exécutif, which is under the authority of the Premier.

Activity Sectors

Intergovernmental and Institutional Relations

The Atlantic Provinces office is responsible for maintaining and developing intergovernmental and institutional relations within the four Atlantic provinces in order to promote discussion between them and Québec. It plays an active and ongoing liaison role with the governmental and public departments and organizations, the municipalities and various institutions, such as universities and colleges, of the eastern provinces.

Francophonie

The office fosters privileged relations with Francophone organizations in the Atlantic region, thus promoting dialogue and partnerships between Québec and Acadia. It plays an active role in managing the programs arising out of the Québec Policy on the Canadian Francophonie. It also participates in monitoring the various cooperation agreements entered into by Québec with the four governments with respect to the Canadian Francophonie. The Development Attaché, who is also responsible for the Francophonie file within the Office, promotes these programs to target audiences. She also offers useful information concerning the policy’s implementation and available financial assistance pursuant to the policy.

Communications and Public Affairs

The office represents and promotes Québec. As such, it:

Informs and advises Québec government authorities about the main political and economic issues at play on its territory;

Cooperates in promotional activities, particularly in the cultural and economic sectors.